Bible Question: The Scripture is John 8:12...It says "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." What is the "Light of life" in this passage? Is it Jesus Himself? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Lissa... Thank you for the specific verse. Jesus uses a number of metaphors to allow us to understand His attributes, messianic mission, and our relationship to Him. In John 4:13-14 and again in John 7:37-39, He uses the metaphor of water. In John 6:35, He uses the metaphor of bread. Notice how in both these instances, Christ used the things around Him in order to teach. When He used the water metaphor, it was at the Jacob's well and at the water of Siloam -- Jeremiah uses the imagery of living water, prefiguring Christ. When He used the bread metaphor, it was in response to the miracle of the feeding of the multitude -- Moses and Nehemiah speak of the provision of bread of divine origin. Now, when Jesus spoke of being the "light of the world" He was standing in the treasury of the temple (John 8:20). According to commentators, at this location "stood two colossal golden lamp-stands, on which hung a multitude of lamps, lighted after the evening sacrifice (probably every evening during the feast of tabernacles), diffusing their brilliancy, it is said, over all the city. Around these the people danced with great rejoicing." No doubt the Lord Jesus made this proclamation as these lights were being lit. For further study, read Isaiah 42:6; Malachi 4:2; John 1:8-9; 12:46; Ephesians 5:8-9; also compare 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Revelation 1:12-20. The Jews understood that God would bring light to the world in their midst (Malachi 4:2), and they thought that they themselves were to be guides to the blind nations (Romans 2:19). Nevertheless, Christ asserted the innate blindness of all men (John 9:41), and that His messianic ministry was not (at that time) a matter of bringing judgment but bringing sight to the blind (John 9:39). Christ is the focal point and climax of God's work in redemptive history. Through Christ He brings sight to blind men, making clear the requirements of God's commands, and enabling His own to follow Him. As you've already touched on, there are many ways in which we can understand our Lord as the Light of the World. In Him, Doc |
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